Attorneys Representing Dog Attack Victims Across Texas

This website is maintained by the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a Dallas, Texas law firm representing people across Texas for dog bite injury cases. We have attempted to provide useful information for those harmed by animal attacks.

Posts Tagged ‘Activism’

Wednesday, April 19th, 2017

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Carroll County, Indiana, on Thursday, April 13, 2017, a dog neighbors say is always chained in its yard was loose and brutally attacked an 8-year-old boy. The dog attack victim’s 12-year-old neighbor Raven McMurtie saw what was happening in the field near her home, went outside, and let out a scream that frightened the dog away. McMurtie said she immediately began crying and praying for her friend, whose arm was hanging, as though broken, and he had blood all over.

According to McMurtie’s mother, who also witnessed the dog attack, the dog was shaking the boy, dropping him, and shaking him again. They ran to his aid and found that the injuries went to the bone in at least three places.

McMurtie credited the boy with being tough and brave, assuring her that he was fine. The boy was quickly transported to a nearby hospital with what police said were serious arm injuries.

During an investigation of the incident, the attacking dog behaved aggressively toward a police officer, who shot the dog in the chest. The animal was transported by Clinton County animal control to a vet in a nearby city. The dog will be quarantined for 10 days, to watch for signs of rabies.

Other neighbors spoke about the dog. They said the dog has never been seen running free. It is kept chained all the time, and several people have reported that the dog often didn’t have food or water.

Reports have been done that indicate dogs are more dangerous after being cruelly chained for long periods of time. According to the State of Texas HB 1411, it is against the law in Texas to chain or tether a dog except in strict circumstances.

Friday, May 27th, 2016

A small United States Postal Service truck seen in Carson City, Nevada. The USPS often uses these smaller vehicles in suburban areas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

About $118 million was paid by State Farm in dog-related injury claims in the U.S. last year. Texas ranked the third highest in claims last year, with 165 claims totaling $4.9 million. First was California with 383 claims costing $18.3 million. Second was Illinois with 338 claims totaling $11.2 million. Sources say the cost of insurance may rise for everyone because of dog bite claims alone.

The following is some information provided in connection with this story:

State Farm is not one of the insurance companies that asks breed-specific questions. When providing homeowners’ or renters’ insurance, the breed of dog is not asked. The reasoning is that any dog could bite, in certain circumstances, regardless of breed.

More than half of all dog bite victims are children. Other groups high on the list of frequent victims of dog bites are the elderly and delivery personnel, such as mail carriers. In 2015, more than 6,500 postal carriers with the United States Postal Service (USPS) reported dog attacks. Compared to 2014, there was a 14% increase in reports of dog attacks on postal workers. The increase is largely due to a huge increase in package delivery linked to Internet sales.

Being a responsible dog owner includes carrying insurance covering dog bite incidents. It’s important to talk to your insurance carrier to find out what is covered related to dogs, such as whether there are qualifying circumstances and whether all breeds are covered.

With more than 4.5 million dog bites reported in the U.S. annually, dog attacks are serious threats to public safety.

Friday, May 20th, 2016

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has released the latest numbers on postal workers being attacked by dogs. In 2015, Houston, Texas, was a clear leader, with 77 dog attacks. The cities that took second both had 58 bites; they were San Diego, CA, and Cleveland, OH. Dallas shares the third most dog attacks for 2015, at 57, tied with Chicago, IL. The two remaining Texas cities among the 51 in the top 30 rankings were Fort Worth and San Antonio, both tied for tenth with 39 postal worker dog attacks each. Last year, a total of 6,549 postal employees were attacked by dogs.

The following is safety information USPS is urging new media to share with the public, in addition to asking that hashtag “#preventdogbites” be used when reporting about dog attacks:

If a mail carrier delivers a package or mail to your front door, do not open the door until the dog has been secured in a separate room. Dogs have frequently been known to burst through screen doors and even plate-glass windows to attack mail carriers and other strangers.

Dog owners are asked to keep their pets secured. Parents are asked to instruct their children on the importance of not opening the door of the home to a letter carrier until the dog has been put away in a different room or in some other way restrained in a separate location. Dogs tend to view mail carriers as a threat, especially when handing mail to a child.

The safety of postal workers is the priority of USPS. Anytime mail carriers feel threatened by a dangerous dog or if a dog is seen running loose, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at the post office until there is assurance that the mail carrier will be safe because the pet has been properly restrained. When dogs roam the neighborhood, neighbors as well as the dog owners may be asked to pick up their mail as the post office.

Learn more about protecting mail carriers from dog attacks in Part 1 and this continuing series.

Friday, May 20th, 2016

USPS service delivery truck in a residential area of San Francisco, California (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has released the latest numbers on postal workers being attacked by dogs. In 2015, Houston, Texas, was a clear leader, with 77 dog attacks. The cities that took second both had 58 bites; they were San Diego, CA, and Cleveland, OH. Dallas shares the third most dog attacks for 2015, at 57, tied with Chicago, IL. The two remaining Texas cities among the 51 in the top 30 rankings were Fort Worth and San Antonio, both tied for tenth with 39 postal worker dog attacks each. Last year, a total of 6,549 postal employees were attacked by dogs.

One new safety measure went into effect on May 13 at USPS. When scheduling a package pickup, customers are asked to indicate whether or not there is a dog at the address. A second change also designed to keep postal workers safe from dog bites goes into effect later this spring. Letter carriers use Mobile Delivery Devices to scan packages that confirm delivery. They will soon include a way to indicate if there is a dog at the address. This is particularly helpful when there are substitutes who deliver as fill-ins for regular letter carriers.

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, from May 15 through 21. USPS together with the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Humane Association, Insurance Information Institute, and State Farm Insurance is getting out the message that dog bites are a safety issue across the nation and that education can help people of all ages prevent dog bites.

Learn more about protecting mail carriers from dog attacks in this continuing series.

Monday, May 16th, 2016

State Farm has released its annual report on dog-related claims. In 2015, Texas had 165 claims. California ranked first with 383 claims totaling $18.3 million. Illinois ranked second with 338 claims at $11.2 million. The total State Farm paid in 3,100 dog-related injury claims across the U.S. was the highest ever, at $118 million. There were four more State Farm claims in Texas related to dogs last year, but the payout this year was much greater, jumping from $2.8 million to $4.9 million.

More than half of all dog bite victims are children. Other groups frequently bitten include the elderly, mail carriers, and other home service workers. According to the United States Postal Service (USPS), 6,500 postal carriers were bitten or attacked by dogs in 2015. Compared to 2014 reports, this was almost a 14% increase. This increase is largely attributed to the vast increase in package delivery from Internet sales.

Part of being a responsible dog owner is carrying insurance. Homeowner policies for dog owners should include coverage in the event of a dog incident. Insurance covers such things as, for example, if a person runs away to prevent a bite and becomes injured from a fall. Rarely does a rental property provide any type of coverage in the event of a dog incident. Renters with dogs should also carry their own insurance.

More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Injuries sustained in a bite can be very serious and even deadly. Learn more about the types of injuries inflicted by dogs, demanding the need for medical attention.

Wednesday, May 4th, 2016

USPS service delivery truck in a residential area of San Francisco, California (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dog bites are a health threat in the U.S. More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. In addition, more than one-third of homeowners’ liability claims involve dog bites. For these reasons and more National Dog Bite Prevention Week, an annual event, is a great idea. This year, the focus on prevention of dog bites will be during the week of May 22 through May 28.

After small children and the elderly, mail carriers are the third most common victims of dog bites. What makes postal workers targets for dogs is that they enter dogs’ territories day after day, in spite of continued warnings. Growls, bites, stares, and lunges don’t stop them. What will stop a mail carrier when snow and rain won’t is a dog attack. Dogs usually become aggressive because they are either threatened or afraid, but postal workers have a right to do their jobs without being bitten. If a mail carrier feels endangered by a dog, he or she is encouraged by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to leave the mail for that home at the local post office branch instead of delivering it to that address.

USPS provides training to mail carriers to equip them to avoid being bitten by dogs. For instance, they are instructed to avoid handing a package or a letter to a customer, especially a child, in the presence of a dog. The reason is that dogs perceive postal workers’ actions as acts of aggression.